At just 16 years old, Andy Meka—better known by his stage name Ondee—is making a name for himself in Mount Vernon, Ohio’s underground music scene. You can find his music on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, where he’s already released several projects, including Eyes of the Wondrous, Lost. Ones, and his latest EP, VIBRANCY.
Ondee’s journey into music started back in 7th grade, and like many artists, it began with a simple spark of creativity.
“I had lyrics in my head,” he said, laughing. “They were terrible. But I really wanted to put pen to paper. I was playing Call of Duty: Cold War and listening to music, and I was like, ‘let’s just do this.’ I did it, and I was like, ‘this is kinda fun.’”
Since then, that spark has turned into a full-blown passion. His sound has evolved, and so have his inspirations. Artists like Tyler, The Creator and JPEGMAFIA have played a big role in shaping his musical direction.
“There are definitely specific artists that influence me. Tyler, The Creator has always been a big one for me,” Ondee explained. “But as I go on and my music changes—or my taste changes—right now I’m really into this guy JPEGMAFIA.”
Ondee’s most recent release, VIBRANCY, dropped this past summer and marked a noticeable shift in tone from his earlier work. The EP is filled with upbeat, colorful sounds—something he hadn’t explored before.
“I wanted to make a beat that sounded like 2Seater by Tyler, The Creator without completely ripping it off,” he said. “I just kept thinking while I was pushing carts at Kroger, and I was like, ‘I really gotta release Unseen Colors, but it doesn’t match anything I’ve been working on.’ That got me thinking—‘I’m gonna make a whole summer EP.’ I just love summer music and bright music, and I was like, ‘Why haven’t I made any?’”
So, what’s next for Ondee?
“This one I’m really gonna take my time on,” he told us. “If it takes me a year, it’ll take me a year. Do I think it will? Probably not. But I’m thinking completely differently about this one. I want to shift to something experimental—like JPEGMAFIA—and I wanna make it. So I’m gonna make it.”
From seventh-grade scribbles to streaming platforms, Ondee is proof that passion, creativity, and a little bit of inspiration can go a long way. Keep an eye on this rising artist—he’s just getting started.